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Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for Scotland to stay in the EU single market even if the rest of the UK comes out has been dealt another major blow after the Welsh First Minister said it could not “possibly work”.

Speaking ahead of talks with Ms Sturgeon at the British-Irish Council yesterday, he said there could not be separate access arrangements to the EU single markets between the three home nations “that share the same landmass”.

Esteban Gonzales Pons, who leads the Spanish delegation of MEPs in the European Parliament’s largest political grouping, said Spain would oppose any such plan for fear of encouraging its own separatist movements in Catalonia and the Basque Country.

His intervention is significant as any special deal for Scotland, including membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA), would require the consent of all EU member states. Ms Sturgeon is due to unveil specific proposals shortly.

Although Mr Gonzalez Pons was not speaking on behalf of the Spanish government, which will not comment on the Brexit negotiations until the UK triggers the Article 50 process, he said his view represented the stance of Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP).

Fiona Hyslop, Ms Sturgeon’s External Affairs Minister, continued to insist that “nothing is impossible” but the Scottish Conservatives said the two interventions “blow a hole” in the First Minister’s negotiating stance and she should focus on working with the rest of the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon wants a special deal to keep Scotland in the EU single marketCredit:
PA

Mr Jones was hosting the British-Irish Council summit in Cardiff, which was attended by senior figures from the UK Government, the three devolved administrations and Enda Kenny, the Irish Taoiseach, with whom Ms Sturgeon held a bilateral meeting.

The implications of Brexit were top of the agenda, with Mr Jones agreeing with Ms Sturgeon that the UK Government’s negotiating priority should be to retain unfettered access to the EU single market.

However, the Welsh Labour leader dismissed her claim that Scotland could strike a separate deal for access if this is not achieved. He told BBC Radio Scotland: “Well I don't think a separate arrangement works if I'm honest with you, I can't see how there can be separate market access arrangements between different nations in the UK that share the same landmass.”

Mr Jones added: “For example, if Scotland had separate market access arrangements that would mean possibly different customs arrangements there would have to be customs posts on the border, there is no other way to deal with that.

“If you're Greenland and you're a long way away from the European landmass it's easier but otherwise how do you control the flow of goods that are traded and the different terms on the same island.”

He said the Scottish Government’s discussions were up to them but his priority was getting the “best deal for the UK and all four nations” and reaching agreement between them on that.

Leading Spanish MEP Esteban Gonzalez PonsCredit:
Getty Images

Mr Gonzalez Pons also warned that Ms Sturgeon’s plan would create a hard border between Scotland and England, saying “there has to be a line” that marks where the EU single market starts and ends.

Adam Tomkins, the Scottish Tories’ constitution spokesman, said: “Both the Welsh First Minister and a leading Spanish MEP today are simply stating the obvious – that a separate Scottish deal to the rest of the UK isn’t on the table and is unrealistic. “The only reason the SNP is pursuing this option is because it wants to provoke another row with Westminster.”

But Ms Hyslop said: "Nothing is impossible. We are in uncharted territory and that is part of what we are discussing with many administrations."

She told BBC Scotland that she had met the Spanish ambassador twice in the last fortnight and “nobody is negotiating just now.” However, she said the Scottish Government was ensuring that EU member states were aware that 62 per cent of Scots voted to Remain.